The lights are on
Update: We had a chance to talk with Electronic Art's VP of corporate communications, Jeff Brown, and he spoke towards why EA has decided to abandon online passes.
"There's not much to say. The online pass came out in 2010. It was a way of packaging together a suite of post-launch content and services for people. There was also an element for people who bought the game second sale. It never really caught on. People didn't like it. People told us that they didn't like it and you know, we went through a cycle and we're about to put out some new games and we just decided not to do that anymore. We're 100 percent committed to creating on-going content and services so the consumers get more value out of the game – you know games like Battlefield and FIFA where there's all sorts of new things that get added all the time – but the whole idea of packaging it up with an online pass, clearly it was not popular, so we listened to people and we stopped doing it."
We asked if this new policy will affect released games that have existing online pass structures, and Brown said he would check on that question and get back to us.
Original story: Electronic Arts has decided to leave the controversial system that requires players to purchase or redeem a code to access a game's online features behind.
EA's senior director of corporate communications John Reseburg confirmed the discontinuation of the program in an e-mail to VentureBeat. Reseburg said EA launched the online pass program, "As an effort to package a full menu of online content and services, many players didn’t respond to the format. We’ve listened to the feedback and decided to do away with it moving forward.”
This certainly isn't the end to online passes appearing in other games, but moving forward, Electronic Arts titles won't require you to either purchase an online pass, or redeem a code to play online. It's good news, especially when you consider our predictions of a world where the online pass has run rampant.
[Source: Venture Beat]
Email the author Kyle Hilliard, or follow on Twitter, Google+, Facebook, and Game Informer.
EA doesn't listen to their players, and when they do, it will be years later.
I have SSX and need an online pass because I bought it used. Do I need one now? Do I no need one anymore? Or does this just not effect me?
EA has been around for a long time I believe... they really should have known better. Am I going to go as far as to say they suck for it? Hell no. Cause I know I'm still gona play their awesome games like everyone else.
I'd rather have online passes than microtransactions, but whatever. :/
Well that's just great now if they could actually refund me for all of the Mass Effect 2 and 3 DLC I've bought in the past. Online passes are the bane of gaming aside from pricey DLC that does little to enhance gameplay. THQ would probably have benefited from this move in the long run before going the way of the buffalo. Since they're are other companies who inexplicably charge users said fees for online via monthly subscription or otherwise. Let's get more and more of the public crying out against the nickel and dime tactics of these already profitable franchises and publishers. Gaming shouldn't cost an arm and a leg.
A step in the right direction.
Wait are you sure that this is EA? EA never does things like this. I think I'm in shock.